Food prices are skyrocketing, but you still need to give your body the nutrition it needs from healthy foods and bariatric vitamins. So, how do you both eat well and save money on food after bariatric surgery? Here are some of our dietician’s best tips!
1. Go for Cheaper Protein Sources
Even though prices have gone up, some foods are still going to be cheaper than others. Frozen instead of fresh meats. A whole chicken vs individual parts. Canned tuna. Eggs. Greek yogurt and cottage cheese. Beans, peas, and lentils. Speaking of lentils, why not try lentils instead of minced meat in a sauce, make lentil steaks (recipe in BariBuddy) or try a cozy minestrone soup (recipe below). A delicious way to save money on food!
2. Avoid Throwing Away Food
A smart way to avoid food waste is to plan your meals for the week using ingredients more than once. For example, the veg from last night can go into tonight’s pasta sauce. The leftover pasta can then go into the next day’s minestrone soup (below). And so forth. You can also freeze produce that is about to go bad to use later, like a frozen brown banana that blends right into a smoothie (recipe in BariBuddy).
3. Plan Meals with Foods on Sale and in Season
When planning your meals for the week, check out the ads to see what’s on sale. This often coincides with what’s in season, and we have some ideas for using those fruits and veggies available now! If something is on sale that you use often and will keep well, go ahead and buy a few extra to have on hand for later. In addition to helping you save money on food, this has the added benefit of having food at the ready when you don’t have time to go to the store.
4. Make Your Own (Protein, Coffee, etc.) Drinks
It’s easy to spend a lot of money on liquids if you buy them when you are out and about and/or ready-made. Make your coffee at home. Blend your own protein drinks. Only used half a cucumber in your salad last night? Add the rest to a pitcher of water instead of buying flavoured water.
5. Pack your Lunches
Whether you prep your lunches at the beginning of the week, make enough for leftovers to bring to work the next day, or throw together something quick and easy in the morning, bringing your own lunch to work rather than eating out saves a lot of money. And of course, don’t forget the snacks (like BariBar!).
Minestrone Soup
4 Servings
1 yellow onion
2 garlic cloves
2 carrots
1/2 of a zucchini
1 red pepper
1 bay leaf
2 vegetable bouillon cubes
1.5 liters water
1 tin crushed tomatoes (around 400g)
150g dry red lentils
200g elbow macaroni or other small pasta
Oil for frying. Salt, pepper, thyme, and red chili flakes to taste.
Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic. Chop the carrots, pepper, and zucchini into cubes. Fry all together at medium heat with a little oil in a large pot until the onion has softened, about 5 minutes.
Add bouillon, water, and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then add the lentils and pasta. Boil until lentils and pasta are done, about 10 minutes.
Add salt, black pepper, thyme, and chili flakes to taste.
What are some other ways that you save money on food?
There’s more where that came from… Check out our other blog posts!
Get complete nutrition with
Baricol® Complete
Baricol Complete is a vitamin and mineral supplement created by doctors and dieticians using to the Nordic guidelines to give you all you need after WLS in one product. Choose between powder, effervescent, chewable, and tablets. Recommended by healthcare professionals.
